State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering , Nanjing University , Nanjing 210093 , China.
Langmuir. 2018 Jun 19;34(24):6983-6990. doi: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.7b03690. Epub 2018 Jun 5.
A novel and efficient photochemical method has been proposed for the encapsulation of Prussian blue nanoparticles (PBNPs) inside the channels of carbon nanotubes (PB-in-CNTs) in an acidic ferrocyanide solution under UV/vis illumination, and the confinement effect of CNTs on the electrochemical properties of PBNPs is systematically explored. PB-in-CNTs show a faster electron-transfer process, an enhanced electrocatalytic activity toward the reduction of HO, and an increased anti-base ability compared to PBNPs loaded outside of CNTs (PB-out-CNTs). In addition, PB-in-CNTs show an increased electrochemical reversibility and an unexpected diameter-independent catalytic activity with the decrease of CNT diameters. The improved electrochemical properties of PB-in-CNTs are attributed to the modified electronic properties and dimensions of PBNPs induced by the confinement effect of CNTs. This work provides further insights into the confinement effect on the properties of nanomaterials and will inspire extensive relevant investigations in the development of novel composites or excellent catalysts.
提出了一种新颖高效的光化学方法，用于在酸性亚铁氰化物溶液中，在 UV/vis 光照下将普鲁士蓝纳米粒子（PBNPs）封装在碳纳米管（PB-in-CNTs）的通道内，系统地研究了 CNTs 对 PBNPs 电化学性质的限制作用。与负载在 CNTs 外部的 PBNPs（PB-out-CNTs）相比，PB-in-CNTs 表现出更快的电子转移过程、对 HO 还原的增强电催化活性和增加的抗碱能力。此外，与 CNT 直径减小相关，PB-in-CNTs 表现出增加的电化学可逆性和出乎意料的直径独立催化活性。PB-in-CNTs 的电化学性能的提高归因于 CNTs 的限制作用引起的 PBNPs 的电子性质和尺寸的改变。这项工作进一步深入了解了限域效应对纳米材料性质的影响，并将激发在新型复合材料或优秀催化剂的开发方面的广泛相关研究。
